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Outrage in Figueres over femicide: "The entire system failed"

Researcher Patrícia Melgar criticizes the victim's lack of protection, while minister Eva Menor assures that circumstances are being analyzed.

Generic image of a wet street at dusk in a Mediterranean town.
IA

Generic image of a wet street at dusk in a Mediterranean town.

A brutal gender-based murder in Figueres has sparked widespread outrage and criticism towards the administration for the alleged lack of protection for the victim, who already had a restraining order against her aggressor.

The murder occurred the day after the alleged perpetrator was arrested for violating a restraining order previously imposed due to prior abuse. Despite accepting a prison sentence and the precautionary measure, the man assaulted the young woman again on the same day. The victim did not appear for her court summons the following day to testify, which led to the aggressor's release before the crime.
The heinous incident has drawn criticism towards the administration regarding the victim's lack of protection and the functioning of risk prevention protocols in gender-based violence. Patrícia Melgar, lead researcher at the gender research group of the University of Girona (UdG), states that "a femicide is the culmination of a violence process, and whenever it occurs, it means that everything prior has failed." She emphasizes that the Figueres case is "particularly flagrant" because it happened after a restraining order was violated.
The Minister of Equality and Feminisms, Eva Menor, has assured that the circumstances are being analyzed to prevent "situations like this from happening again." Melgar, however, suggests that the victim's failure to appear in court might have necessitated the aggressor's release, while stressing the need for "protection measures for case follow-up," for both the aggressor and, "equally or more importantly," the victim.
The expert questions the reasons for the victim's non-appearance, suggesting possible factors such as fear, isolation, or "a complicated administrative situation," and underlines that "the focus and responsibility cannot continue to be placed on the victim." Melgar insists that prevention must be "sustained over time" and calls for the execution of budgets, strengthening of specialized associations and resources, improved coordination between services, and increased public awareness.
The City Council of Figueres, which will act as a popular accuser, hosted a gathering of about five hundred people. The mayor, Jordi Masquef, lamented that the protection system "has failed" and called for reflection on the causes. The Espai d'Intercanvi Feminista de l'Empordà also expressed its outrage, demanding answers and regretting that "measures are taken when it is already too late."

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